178

CHARACTER CREATION

marTyr

The Martyr suffers for his cause, enduring her trials

out of the belief that her discomfort will ultimately im-

prove the world.

Regain a point of Willpower when you suffer some

damage or loss of a deﬁnable resource for your ideals or

another’s immediate gain.

masoChisT

The Masochist exists to test her limits and gains satis-

faction in humiliation, suffering, denial, and physical pain.

Regain a point of Willpower when your own suffer-

ing leads to some tangible gain for you, or whenever you

experience pain in a unique way.

mErCEnary

The Mercenary believes anything can be a commodity.

Appearance and inﬂuence are everything when it comes

to a sale, and no advantage is wasted.

Regain a point of Willpower whenever you make a

successful sale of any commodity or service.

monsTEr

The Monster knows she is a creature of darkness and

acts like it. Evil and suffering are tools. She doesn’t commit

evil for evil’s sake but rather as a means to understand

what she’s become.

Regain a point of Willpower whenever you commit

a speciﬁc atrocity. Storytellers should be careful when

rewarding this Archetype. A player who chooses violence

as an atrocity shouldn’t regain Willpower every combat,

but perhaps only when she needs to roll a degeneration

check. Rewards should come as a result of the character

challenging his own descent into the Beast.

pEDaGoGuE

The Pedagogue knows it all and make sure his message

is heard – at length, if necessary.

Regain a point of Willpower whenever you see or

learn of someone who has beneﬁted from the wisdom

you share with them.

pEniTEnT

The Penitent atones for the grave sin she commits

simply by being who she is and feels compelled to “make

up” for inﬂicting herself on the world.

Regain a point of Willpower whenever you feel that

you have achieved absolution for a given sin.

pErFECTionisT

The Perfectionist demands ﬂawless execution from

herself as well as others.

Regain a point of Willpower whenever you motivate

another character to succeed as a result of your own

shining example.

philosophEr

The Philosopher critically examines every situation

looking for logical outcomes and patterns.

Regain a point of Willpower any time a logical, system-

atic approach to a problem helps you solve it, or information

gathered logically is of use in another similar situation.

rEBEl

The Rebel is a malcontent, never satisﬁed with the

status quo or the system as it is. He does everything in

his power to undermine authority.

Regain a point of Willpower whenever your actions

adversely affect your chosen opposition.

roGuE

The Rogue only cares about one thing: herself. She

is not necessarily a thug or bully; she simply has her own

best interests in mind at all times.

Regain a point of Willpower whenever your self-cen-

tered disposition leads you to proﬁt.

saDisT

The Sadist exists to inﬂict pain and suffering on oth-

ers. Killing is too easy. She seeks the slowest, most painful

means to push others to the ultimate limits.

Regain a point of Willpower whenever you inﬂict pain

upon someone for no reason other than your own pleasure.

solDiEr

The Soldier is not a blindly loyal follower. While she

exists for orders, she does not adhere to them unques-

tioningly. More independent than a Conformist but too

tied to the idea of command to be a Loner, the Soldier

applies her own techniques to others’ goals and ambition

lies within the established hierarchy and structure.

Regain a point of Willpower when you achieve your

orders’ objectives.

survivor

The Survivor always manages to pull through, no

matter the odds or opposition. The Survivor’s utter re-

fusal to accept defeat often makes the difference between

179

BACKgROUNDS

success and failure.

Regain a point of Willpower whenever you survive a

threatening situation through sheer tenacity, or when your

counsel causes someone else to persist in spite of opposition.

Thrill-sEEKEr

The Thrill-Seeker lives for the rush of danger and

actively pursues hazardous and possibly deadly situations.

He is not actively suicidal or self-destructive; he simply

seeks the stimulation of risk.

Regain a point of Willpower any time you succeed

at a dangerous task you have deliberately undertaken.

TraDiTionalisT

The Traditionalist prefers to accomplish her goals

with time-tested methods. The status quo is acceptable,

even preferable to change.

Regain a point of Willpower any time the proven way

turns out to be the best. Also, regain a point of Willpower

any time you adhere to one of your previously espoused

positions and it proves a wise course of action.

TyranT

The Tyrant seeks to be in charge or guide a group,

bringing order out of strife.

Regain a point of Willpower when you inﬂuence or

aid a group in the completion of a difﬁcult task.

visionary

The Visionary tests accepted societal limits and

seeks what few others have the courage to imagine. She

encourages society to offer what it is capable of offering

instead of what it actually does offer. She is responsible

for bringing about progress and change.

Regain a point of Willpower each time you are able to

convince others to have faith in your vision of the future.

BaCKGrounDs

ackgrounds describe advantages of relationship, circum-

stance, material possessions, and opportunities. They

are external traits and you should always rationalize how

you came to possess them, as well as what they represent.

alliEs

Allies are mortals who support you willingly, without

coercion. They are not always available to offer assistance;

they have their own concerns as well, but they could

provide indirect access to their own Backgrounds such

as Contacts, Inﬂuence, or Resources. However, nothing

is free. If you draw on favors from your friends, they may

ask for a favor in return.

Allies dots may be pooled among a coterie of char-

acters.

• One ally of moderate inﬂuence and power

•• Two allies, both of moderate power

••• Three allies, one of whom is quite inﬂuential

•••• Four allies, one of whom is very inﬂuential

••••• Five allies, one of whom is extremely inﬂuential

alTErnaTE iDEnTiTy

You maintain a complete alternate identity including

proper documentation. In this day and age, that meant

business records, church records, and perhaps legal doc-

uments. Every region had its own bureaucracies.

• You are new at this identity game. Sometimes

you slip and forget your other persona.

•• You are ﬁrmly grounded in your alternate

identity. You are convincing enough to play

the part of a doctor, priest, noble, diplomat,

or other privileged position.

••• You have a fair reputation as your alternate

persona and get name recognition in the area

where you have inﬁltrated.

•••• Your alternate identity has respect and trust

within your area of inﬁltration.

••••• You command respect in your area of inﬁltra-

tion, and you may even have accumulated a

bit of inﬂuence. You have the trust (or at least

the recognition) of many powerful individuals

within your area.

ConTaCTs

Contacts are people you can manipulate or coerce into

offering information. Minor contacts are spread throughout

the city. Roll your Contacts rating (difﬁculty 7) and reach one

minor contact for each success. However, you still have to

convince them to give you the information. Major contacts

can give you accurate information in their ﬁelds of expertise

and each should be described in detail before the game begins.

• One major contact

•• Two major contacts

••• Three major contacts

•••• Four major contacts

••••• Five major contacts

180

CHARACTER CREATION

Domain

Domain is physical territory your character controls for

the purpose of feeding. The local Prince or other Cainite

authority acknowledges and supports your claim. You

may designate one or more dots to increase the security

of the Domain rather than its size. Each dot assigned to

security increases the difﬁculty to intrude into the domain

by one, and decreases the difﬁculty for you to identify and

track intruders by one. Each level of Domain reduces the

difﬁculty of hunting checks by one for those allowed to

hunt and adds to your starting blood pool. See p. 334 for

more information on hunting. Domain can be used with

pooled Background points.

• A single small building, such as a single-family

home or a social establishment — enough for

a basic haven.

•• A church, manor, or other large structure — a

location with ready (but controllable) access

to the outside world.

••• A city neighborhood — a location or area

that offers areas for concealment as well as

controlled access.

•••• A catacomb, a network of tunnels, the enclave

of homes on a hill overlooking the city — a

place with inherently protective features, such

as bridge-only access or vigilant private guards.

••••• An entire neighborhood, an ethnic ghetto, or

a whole village.

FamE

You enjoy widespread recognition in mortal society as an

entertainer, scholar, warrior, or even criminal. This gives you

privileges when moving in mortal society, but can also attract

unwanted attention now that you’re no longer alive. It’s a

mixed blessing with prestige on one hand and being recognized

at inconvenient times on the other. However, enemies can’t

make you disappear without causing a stir. Your Fame facilitates

hunting in populated areas – reduce the difﬁculty of hunting

rolls by one for each dot in Fame. Your storyteller may permit

you to reduce difﬁculties of certain Social rolls as well.

• You’re known to a select subculture — local

artists, scholars, or the nobility.

•• Random people start to recognize your face;

you’re a minor celebrity such as a small-time

criminal or a local musician.

181

BACKgROUNDS

••• You have greater renown; perhaps you’re a

successful diplomat or an entertainer who

regularly performs for the nobility.

•••• A full-blown celebrity; your name is often

recognized by the average person on the road.

••••• You’re a household word. People name their

children after you.

GEnEraTion

This Background represents your Generation: the pu-

rity of your blood, and your proximity to the First Vampire.

A high Generation rating may represent a powerful sire

or a decidedly dangerous taste for diablerie. If you don’t

take any dots in this Trait, you begin play as a Twelfth

Generation vampire. See p. 341 for further information.

• Eleventh Generation: 12 blood pool, can spend

1 blood point per turn

•• Tenth Generation: 13 blood pool, can spend 1

blood point per turn

••• Ninth Generation: 14 blood pool, can spend

2 blood points per turn

•••• Eighth Generation: 15 blood pool, can spend

3 blood points per turn

••••• Seventh Generation: 20 blood pool, can spend

4 blood points per turn and possess Traits at 6

dots

hErD

You have built a group of mortals from whom you can

feed without fear. In addition to providing nourishment,

your Herd may be useful for minor tasks. However, unlike

Allies or Retainers, they are typically not very controllable or

skilled. Your Herd rating adds dice to your rolls for hunting.

Players may purchase pooled Herd with Background points.

• Three vessels

•• Seven vessels

••• 15 vessels

•••• 30 vessels

••••• 60 vessels

inFluEnCE

You have pull in the mortal community through

wealth, familial lineage, prestige, politics, blackmail, or

supernatural sway. Inﬂuence represents the sum of your

opinion or policy-swaying power in your community,

particularly among law enforcement and bureaucracy.

Inﬂuence can be used with pooled Background points.

• Moderately inﬂuential; a factor in local politics

•• Well-connected; a force in nearby politics

••• Position of inﬂuence; a factor in regional politics

•••• Broad personal power; a force in large-scale

politics

••••• Vastly inﬂuential; a factor in politics of the

known world

mEnTor

You have a Cainite or group of Cainites who look

out for you, offering guidance and aid once in a while. A

mentor typically remains aloof, giving useful information or

advice but rarely direct aid. If he arrives to pull you from a

dangerous situation, you’re likely to lose a dot or more in

this Background, or be abandoned as an unworthy protégé.

• Mentor is an ancilla of little inﬂuence.

•• Mentor is respected: an elder or highly-deco-

rated veteran.

••• Mentor is heavily inﬂuential, such as a Prince’s

advisor.

•••• Mentor has a great deal of power over the city,

such as a Seneschal or Sheriff.

••••• Mentor is extraordinarily powerful, perhaps

even a Prince.

rEsourCEs

Resources are assets your character controls. These

may be gold, investments, property, commercial inven-

tories, or even taxes and tithes. A character with no dots

in Resources may have enough clothing and supplies to

get by, or she may be destitute and squatting. You receive

a basic allowance each month based on your rating, so

detail exactly where this money comes from. Players

may purchase Resources for their characters with pooled

Background points.

• Sufﬁcient. You can maintain a typical residence

in the style of the working class with stability,

even if spending sprees come seldom.

•• Moderate. You can display yourself as a member

in good standing of the merchant class, with

the occasional gift and indulgence seemly for a

person of even higher station. You can maintain

a servant or hire speciﬁc help as necessary. A

fraction of your resources are available in coin

or gold, readily portable property (like jewelry),

and other valuables that let you maintain a

standard of living at the one-dot level wherever

you happen to be, for up to six months.

182

CHARACTER CREATION

pOOLINg BACKgROUNDS

embers of a coterie may choose to pool their

individual points of Allies, Contacts, Domain,

Herd, Inﬂuence, Resources, and Retainers.

The Anchor

Players in the coterie choose one Background as

the anchor that holds the shared assets together. Any

pooled Backgrounds may serve in this roll, but no

Background pool can have more dots assigned to it

than the Anchor Background does at any time. If the

Anchor Background is damaged by events during play

or between sessions, other assets drift from the charac-

ters’ control, and it takes effort to win them back.

Any contributing character may pull his stake out of

the pool at any time. The dislocation guarantees some dam-

age; the character gets back one less dot than she put in.

Under normal circumstances, a coterie can’t change

its Anchor Background, nor can it acquire a new Anchor

Background. While it may choose to abandon a certain

Background asset over the course of a chronicle (and

thus free itself of the limitations of the pooled Back-

grounds in question), the fact that Backgrounds change

value only as a result of the story’s events means that the

coterie must acquire new Backgrounds in that manner,

rather than through freebie or experience points.

Using Pooled Backgrounds

Pooled Backgrounds are communal property.

Anyone who contributes to the pool, regardless of the

contribution, has equal access to it. Not everyone can

use the pool simultaneously, though. A Herd pool of

seven dots can grant access only to the same, ﬁnite

number of vessels. The allocation of those points de-

pends on the circumstances and agreements between

the characters.

Upper Limits

By pooling points, a coterie can get Backgrounds

that surpass the normal ﬁve-dot limit. This ar-

rangement is normal and reﬂects the advantages of

cooperation. There is no upper limit on the level a

Background can rise to, but it’s usually best for the

Storyteller to impose a 10-dot limit. The Storyteller

should take the scaling of Backgrounds into consid-

eration, increasing reliability rather than quantitative

value as the ratings escalate among the coterie. This is

a question of balancing player expectations with ele-

ments of the story, so be sure to set some guidelines for

what the shared Backgrounds actually represent before

the chronicle begins.

••• Comfortable. You are a prominent and established

member of your community, with land and an owned

dwelling. You likely have more tied up in equity

and property than you do in ready coin. You can

maintain a one-dot quality of existence wherever

you are without difﬁculty, for as long as you choose.

•••• Wealthy. You rarely touch gold, as most of

your assets exist in tangible forms that are

themselves more valuable and stable than coin.

You hold more wealth than many of your local

peers. When earning your Resources doesn’t

enjoy your usual degree of attention, you can

maintain a three-dot existence for up to a year,

and a two-dot existence indeﬁnitely.

••••• Extremely Wealthy. You are the model to which

others strive to achieve, at least in the popular

mind. You have vast and widely distributed assets,

perhaps tied to the fates of nations, each with huge

staffs and connections to every level of society

through a region. You travel with a minimum of

three-dot comforts, more with a little effort.

rETainErs

Retainers are servants, assistants, or loyal and steadfast

companions. Many vampires’ servants are ghouls, ghouled

animals, or people whom you’ve repeatedly Dominated or

completely enthralled. Retainers may be useful, but they’re

never ﬂawless or blindly loyal – if you treat them poorly

without exercising strict control, they may well turn on you.

With Storyteller permission, a player may create a single more

competent Retainer by combining points in this Background.

Players can spend pooled Background points on Retainers.

• One retainer

•• Two retainers

••• Three retainers

•••• Four retainers

••••• Five retainers

183

WILLpOWER

sTaTus

You’ve standing within the local Cainite community.

You may derive this standing from your sire’s status and

bloodline, the reputation of your coterie, or your own

individual deeds. High Status may make you a target for

those against your faction. When interacting with local

Cainites, you may roll your Status in conjunction with a

Social Trait to reﬂect the positive effects of your prestige.

As the lowest of the low, Caitiff characters may not

purchase Status during character creation.

• Known: a recognized neonate

•• Respected: an ancilla

••• Inﬂuential: an elder

•••• Powerful: a widely respected elder

••••• Luminary: a Prince or other Cainite leader

virTuEs

he Virtues Traits deﬁne a character’s ethical code and

commitment to his chosen morality. They come into

play when a character faces an impending frenzy, does some-

thing ethically questionable by their morality, or confronts

something disturbing and terrifying. A vampire’s Virtues

are determined by his Road, the particular code of ethics he

follows. Characters may have Conscience or Conviction, and

Instinct or Self-Control. You can ﬁnd more about Roads on p.

110. At character creation, a character’s Road rating is equal

to Conscience/Conviction + Instinct/Self-Control Virtues.

ConsCiEnCE/ConviCTion

Conscience is a Trait describing a character’s moral

judgment and stems from her attitude and outlook. Convic-

tion represents a character’s callousness and dedication to a

generally inhumane cause. These Virtues prevent a vampire

from succumbing to the Beast by deﬁning the Beast’s urges

as unacceptable. Conscience/Conviction factors into the

difﬁculty of many rolls to avoid committing a transgression.

• Uncaring/Remorseful

•• Normal/Righteous

••• Ethical/Ethical

•••• Righteous/Uncaring

••••• Remorseful/Callous

insTinCT/sElF-ConTrol

Self-Control deﬁnes a character’s discipline and mastery

over the Beast. Instinct reﬂects a character’s closeness with

her Beast, and ability to work with it to frightening ends.

Those with high Self-Control rarely succumb to emotional

urges and are thus able to resist frenzy. Those with high

Instinct can manage their Beasts and keep them placated

until ready to unleash on an unsuspecting world. Instinct/

Self-Control forms the dice pool to resist frenzy (see p. 357).

Note: A character may never roll more dice to resist

or control frenzy than she has in her blood pool.

• Unstable/Unstable

•• Animalistic/Normal

••• Bestial/Temperate

•••• Primal/Hardened

••••• Monstrous/Total self-mastery

CouraGE

Courage is a universal trait, regardless of the Road

the character follows. It represents bravery and mettle

when faced with circumstances they endemically dread:

ﬁre, sunlight, and True Faith. See Rötschreck (p. 357).

• Timid

•• Normal

••• Bold

•••• Resolute

••••• Heroic

willpowEr

illpower measures a character’s inner drive and ability to

overcome unfavorable odds. It has a permanent rating and

a temporary pool of points. The rating is rolled or tested, while the

pool is spent. When a player spends a point of Willpower, mark

the expenditures in the pool (the squares) – it will ﬂuctuate a great

deal during the course of a story. A character with no Willpower

pool is exhausted mentally, physically, and spiritually, and can

no longer muster the energy to undertake an action or cause.

For more information on Willpower, see “Spending

Willpower” on p. 339.

Measured on a 1-10 scale, a character’s Willpower is

equal to his Courage at character creation.

• Spineless

•• Weak

••• Unassertive

•••• Difﬁdent

••••• Certain

••••• • Conﬁdent